Jim Thornton

Mike Edwards

Angela Emsley

Local Election Time is here again, and this time it comes with a free Referendum on a different voting system. Four years ago East Herts People put up thirteen candidates who did well, but not well enough. This time we will be supporting fewer candidates, and they will be standing as Independents also endorsed by the Independent Network.

There is no 'political party' for Independents, but the nearest thing to a support and promotion structure is the Independent Network. The chief mover is Brian Ahearne, and IN operates from his office in North London.

Independents do not have an organisation or party funds to help them get elected. They generally have to do it themselves and pay for it themselves. This means that whatever their Budget, they need to spend wisely. Tamsin Omond of the Independent Network contacted over 1000 Independent Councillors to ask them for tips for new candidates.

Membership of political parties is now at an all time low, and the total of all political party members is now less than the number of children who listen to Classic FM. One consequence of this is that our Local Councillors are selected by and from an ageing and diminishing bunch of eccentrics.

Jim Thornton, founder of East Herts People and Executive member of the Independent Network, published an informative book on electioneering and local government last February entitled 'Independents for East Herts'.